ὀνομάζω (onomazō)
onomazō
to name
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb onomazō simply means to name or call someone by their name. In the New Testament, it appears in eleven verses, often describing how people are identified or addressed. For instance, Jesus gives names to his disciples (Luke 6:13-14), and Paul lists those who bear a particular name (1 Corinthians 5:11). It is a straightforward word for assigning identity through speech.
Its meaning extends beyond mere labeling. In Ephesians, it describes bearing the name of Christ or being known by it (Ephesians 1:21; 5:3). The sources note its use in the Septuagint for Hebrew words meaning to call out or mention a name, linking it to acts of worship or declaration. This suggests that naming is not just about identification but also about relationship and public acknowledgment.
The word’s root, onoma, means "name," emphasizing that what we call something reveals its nature. In Acts 19:13, those trying to cast out demons invoke the name of Jesus, showing how the name carries authority. Translators usually render onomazō as "name" or "call," capturing its directness without adding extra theological weight unless the context demands it.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Jesus called Simon Peter, He did more than assign a label; He revealed a new identity. To name someone is to define who they are in relation to you. In Ephesians, Paul describes Christ as having a name above every other name, showing that true authority comes from God alone. This reminds us that our worth is not found in titles we give ourselves, but in the One who calls us by name.
We see this power when believers invoke Jesus’ name against darkness. It is not magic, but a declaration of trust in His authority. Conversely, Paul warns that those who claim to belong to Christ must live differently. To bear His name means walking in integrity. This word invites us to consider how our lives reflect the identity we have received through faith.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- was named1×
- to invoke1×
- should be named1×
- is naming1×
- is named,1×
- is named1×
- being named1×
- being designated1×
- He named:1×
- He named1×
- He called [them]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὠνόμασεν2×
- ὀνομάζεται,2×
- ὠνόμασεν·1×
- ὠνομάσθη1×
- ὀνομάζων1×
- ὀνομάζειν1×
- ὀνομαζόμενος1×
- ὀνομαζέσθω1×
- ὀνομαζομένου1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 6:13
When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles:
This verse shows Jesus actively naming his disciples, establishing their new role and identity as apostles.
-
Ephesians 1:21
far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.
Here the word emphasizes Christ’s supreme authority over every power or title in existence.
-
Acts 19:13
But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”
The attempt to use Jesus' name without true relationship highlights that the name carries real spiritual weight.
-
II Timothy 2:19
However, God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.”
This passage links naming the Lord with a practical call to turn away from unrighteousness.